Rot Resistance:Cumaru has excellent durability and weathering properties. The wood is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance, though it may be susceptible to some insect attacks.

Workability: Tends to be difficult to work on account of its density and interlocked grain. If the grain is not too interlocked, Cumaru can be surface-planed to a smooth finish. However, the wood contains silica and will have a moderate blunting effect on tool cutters. Due to its high oil content and density, Cumaru can present difficulties in gluing, and pre-boring is necessary when screwing or nailing the wood.

Odor:Cumaru has a faint, vanilla or cinnamon-like odor when being worked.

Comments: Wood of the species Dipteryx odorata is most commonly called Cumaru among most woodworkers, though it is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Teak as well: primarily when used as hardwood flooring. (Brazilian Teak is not related to the wood that is most commonly called Teak, Tectona grandis.)

Cumaru is also called by the name Tonka Bean, and the tree is commonly cultivated for its vanilla-cinnamon scented seed—the tonka bean—which contains a chemical compound called coumarin.

Cumaru lumber is extremely stiff, strong, and hard, lending itself well to a variety of applications. It is sometimes used in place of the much more scarce Lignum Vitae.

The heartwood fluoresces under a blacklight, which can help distinguish it from Ipe.

Hi there, for you or anyone else interested, cumaru isn’t exactly the same as Almendrillo (almendro), which is actually Dipteryx Panamensis growing from the south of Nicaragua to Colombia.
Almendro tends to have darker grain and growth rings, and seems a bit less oily, at least in the pieces I’ve had my paws on. Hardness should be quite similar (my table saw doesn’t appreciate cutting 8/4 of it in 1 pass) but workability seems reasonable. It makes crazy sharp splinters and crazy fine dust that smells like vanilla and dry cacao. I’ll try to send information to complete the page on Almendro here.

Hahah, here in Costa Rica, Jatoba is called “Guapinol”. I’ve found most of them don’t really care for these amazing species they have, cause they stock them as “semi-hard” lumbers and they’re more often used for construction and beams… such a waste… they do know teak, which is plantation grown here (sucks for the environment), pine (from Chile) and laurel (horrible stuff). Furniture is ironically mostly made out of pine here, where the best woods grow, it’s also common to see spanish cedar and monkeypod, sold as just “normal wood”. Odd markets we have.

Some years ago, I somehow got a sample piece of cumaru flooring and it sat in a corner for a while. This last week I cut and stacked some rounds from it to turn on my lathe the result was quite interesting to look at. This is one wood that I think I would like to play with some more if I can afford to.

Hello from Berlin, Germany,
I wanted to simply express my gratitude for this site being available.
Last winter I found over two dozen pieces, ( 38 cm in Length)that looked to be old stairtreads, (Fluted on both sides), in the back of the building where I have my studio. Some were used to support pallets of metal scraps. I thought they were Teak and salvadged them and let them sit inside for over four months. I was amazed, with the exception of some cracks and the natural greying, the wood had not decayed at all and had only a few surface holes from un wise insects. At any rate, I realized that it wasnät Teak and wanted to know what it was and this site hip nme the fact that it is Cumaru, (Brazillian Teak). I’ve found supplyers that show the exact same Tread as I found. To make a long story short. I’m almost finished with making a pair of Bongos from this beautiful and pleasing to smell and work with wood.
Because of it being exposed to the elements for so long, hte wood is still dense, but a lot of the oils have evaporated, wich makes it easier to work with hand tools, (I don’t have maschines). Ok, that all, maybe when i finish the Bongos I can post a foto or two of them.
Thanks again!

The wood itself will probably be fine, but I would still do felt pads if possible. Even when you use a super strong wood, the finish on top of the wood can still get messed up. It’s generally a good policy to try to protect any type of wood finish as best you can.